Key case



May 22, 3956 g L, MOBERG 2,746,282

KEY CASE Filed Jan. 28, 1955 FIG.6.

FIG.5.

FIG.4.

FIG.2.

JNVEN TOR. F 6 N E L M O B E R G United States Patent KEY CASE Evan L. Moberg, Latrobe, Pa.

Application January 23, 1955, Serial No. $84,810

2 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates to key cases and particularly to a pocket key case in which the keys are automatically returned to the case after use and retained therein while in the pocket.

Many types of key containers and cases have heretofore been proposed. In every such case, however, it was necessary to manually return the key to the interior of the case and manually lock it there in order to maintain it within the case. Such cases and containers permit the keys to come out of the case while in the pocket and to tear and wear the pocket as well as scratch or otherwise injure the user. This problem is particularly acute in the case of automobile keys which are frequently removed and returned to the pocket.

I provide a key case which overcomes these objections to the conventional cases of the prior art. I provide a key case having an elongated housing provided with a hollow interior portion, means pivotally receiving a key adjacent one end of the hollow portion, a slot in the housing transverse to the pivotal axis of the key, a shoulder on the housing at one end of the slot, means urging the key toward the shoulder and resilient means in the housing acting upon the key urging it into the hollow portion of the housing. Preferably the slot in the housing is T- shaped so as to provide opposite shoulders. Two keys are preferably inserted in the hollow interior on a single shaft and provided with resilient means between them urging them apart.

While I have described certain salient features, advantages and objects of my invention, other features, objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal section through a key case according to my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the key case of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line IllllI of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of an activating spring used in the key case of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the spring of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of an alternative form of key case according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings I have illustrated a key case 10 having a hollow interior portion 11 which communicates with the exterior of the housing 10 through a key hole or T-shaped slot 12 having shoulders 12a. A shaft 13 extends through the housing 10 adjacent one end and is adapted to removably and pivotally receive keys 14. A butterfly spring 15 or similar resilient means is placed on the shaft 13 between the keys 14 to urge them apart. An activating spring 16 having side by side fingers 17 is fixed in the interior of the housing lit and engages the keys to urge them into the interior of the housing. A notch 18 is provided at the end of the housing opposite the shaft 13 to permit ease of grasping the keys for use.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, there is provided a housing 19:: having a hollow interior portion 11a. The housing lila is provided with a T-shaped slot 12, a shaft 13, spring 15, activating spring 16 with side fingers 17 and notch 18 identical with the same elements of the em bodiment of Figures 1 through 5.

The operation of the key case of my invention is generally as follows: The keys 14 are mounted on the shaft 13 in engagement with the spring fingers 17. When it is desired to use a key, the key is grasped with the fingers through the notch 18 and is rotated clockwise viewing Figure 1 through the slot 12 until it clears the shoulders 12a, whereupon the butterfly spring 15 urges the key behind the shoulder 12a. This retains the key in the usable position until it is forced oh the shoulder 12a by the user. When the key is no longer needed, the user forces the key off the shoulder 12a whereupon the resilient spring finger 17 acting on the cam surface created by the rotation of the key forces the key into the key case.

it is apparent from the foregoing description that the key case of the present invention is simple yet positive in its action and provides an effective automatic key retracting key case. While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A key case comprising an elongated housing having a hollow interior portion, a shaft in said housing adjacent one end of the hollow portion adaped to receive a key, a lengthwise T-shaped slot in the housing with the enlarged portion adjacent the shaft through which the key may be projected, resilient means on the shaft for acting axially of the shaft upon a key on the shaft and for urging said key toward the housing whereby when the key is projected through the T-shaped slot, the resilient means holds the key on the shoulder formed by the T-shaped slot and spring means surrounding the shaft to act upon said key on the shaft urging it into the hollow interior portion.

2. A key case comprising an elongated housing having a hollow interior portion, a shaft in said housing adjacent one end of the hollow portion, said housing having a lengthwise slot with an enlarged end portion adjacent the shaft, a shoulder on the housing at the enlarged portion of the slot adapted to receive the blade of a key pivoted on the shaft, resilient means on the shaft for urging the blade onto the shoulder and spring means in the housing adapted to bear against the key head urging it into the hollow interior portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,547,524 Gross Apr. 3, 1951 2,550,375 Pentek Apr. 24, 1951 2,699,667 Mark et a1 Jan. 18, 1955 

